The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1887-10-20
The Engineers Brotherhood.
Beginning of Their Annual Session
in Chicago.
The Admirable Address of Grand
Chief Engineer Arthur.
How Labor's Cause Ia Impeded by
the Indolent and the Unworthy.
Liquor and Workingmen-Advan
OF Arbitration-Fine Condi-
ton OF the Brother
hood.

CmCAGo, H., Oct. l0-Thc twcnty-fourth
annual grand International convention OF
the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers
opened in the Central Music hall az 1880
o'clock this afternoon with delegates present
from all parts of the Union. Mayor Roche
Welcomed the delegates, ON behalf Of the city,
In a short address. Speeches were also made
by Gov Oglcshy, the Rev. Dr. Thomas, Com
gresham William Emerson and others, with
music judiciously intcHpcrscd. The chief
feature of the afternoons exercise was tho
annual address of the grand chief engineer,
T. NJ. Arthur who In substance spoke rs
follows:
"Mr. Chairman Ladies' and Gentlemen
After a lapse OF nineteen years, agrccably 10
to the expressed will ol our organization, the
Brotherhood ut Locomotive Engineers IL
again permitted tu greet the good people OF
the great city of the Lakes.
"pcrhups tn some our coming in convcn-
tion tu your city will be- only grand meet
ing uf another army of fanatic laborors, but
We believe tO most people, aud certainly 10
the reading public, We are known ~ an or
ruuiAtiun ul honest men, having honest In.
tcntuns which We ever have and shall ever
execute In a Straightforward, honest manner.
We are enemies only to wrong in iis various
devices and rirhs, and can assurvdly -ay that
political schemes uul aspirations have no
place nor part in our association. 4 mighty
army ut men, representing 80 divisions, has
! gathered about a nucleus ui twelve men,
Who twenty four years ago, assembled In
| the city ol Detroit uud started au urmniza-
| ton destined tu bc more than they then
knew or dreamed. To-day We number
.S,Wu men, and while our mum
hcr are great We would not have
yuU consider only the quantity but
quality a, we'll 10 hn q brotherhood man,
four things arc requisite, namely Sohricty,
truth. Justice AMI neutrality this Is our
motto and on this pruuupt have we based our
practice. Last year In convention, va
deemed % best a. slightly change our plan
uf insurance so as tu bring Il within the
reach ut all We now claim to have ut once
the cheapest and the best, thC most satis-
factory Insurance In existence We have
paid uut during the hsyul year Just closed
| to widows and orphans s2h. inO. uakiuga
/ total ot f2,2iLUhGi that We have paid siuco
the association was established la December,
1861.
AT the close n the last fiscal year We had
itii members died during the wear Il;
disabled. ll iuricitrd lSi. aud had uu Sep-
] ttmhtr I, Il. ~. showing net EuIu uf Nlj.
! our iuuual's circulation his nov reached
s'Wu. from which W. d,uNr revenue Of
''5.J 20 per year During the year your
chief executive has Travelled over 5000
mile. uf territory, adjusting grievances and
attending union mcriinFs Taking aN tr>s
into consideration our relations, both to
ourselves aud with various railroads en-
pluyiur Brotherhood men are nmicable.
When We consider the dissatisfaction which
b. everywhere manifested about us-almost
AN We feel II in the cir about us-our few
troubles u1lu into iusirUihUaurr. The spirit
al j. ..HII Il Ir.aFta
ocean tu ocean urruss our broad continent,
| whispering guudily into thr ears ui men:
| More muU' Aud su the yty D. taken up
aud repeated until it becomes 70 dtnfcniug
/ rar II b. short stride from th, word to
Z the deed. aud every day he uur papers We
| may rad the result II this dscuuicnt la.
| hur ~ lll kinds from the most moninl to
| the most skilled with that ry still ringing
| iu their ear while their Judgment sleeps,
has TIsrn up and refused a. work. UuUf'rring
/ no uay a. little pny Aud with what rrsulR
| Defeat. disaster and despair There have
been times aud incidents When the strike
was tlic only court ~ appeals for the work.
inrmcn and the evil lay in the abuse Of
them, aud not the use ot them
The mCthuls used tn bring about n sue
crssiul termination ~ strikes the abuse of
property and oven Of persons has brought
ihc very name into disTpuic, while the
troubles II the lahoriug.incn are rapidly re-
dying out More aud more clearly defined
" the line becoming which divides the hon
ct man, satisfied with Just remuneration
which be- has truly earned. until by his own
effort hr can rise tu a higher position In life,
aud the loud. voiced bumb.throwcr' who
scarcely able Ia speak the English language,
seeks ~ win his own comfortable living
FROM those who have worked for IL, prcsum-
INK upon the imagination and arousing false
hopcs Wv the hearts " those who are still
more ignorant than himself Among scnsl.
bic men the dny for all this u past
"lTt mercy season Justice and Justice be
tempered with moderation A wise arbitra-
tiun looks t1 long result rather than Ia im-
mediate satisfaction, and nrtomplishcs moro
than intimidation ever can hope to do. Our
hrst father earned his bread by the sweat Of
his brow, aud from that ancient time 90 this
enlightened nfc thCrr has been discovered
nu honest way other Than this.
ut IN not my Intention to impose upon this
convention any dogma upon the drink ques-
ton. But ] cannot refrain, IN honesty 10
my own convictions from deploring the sad
havoc that intcmpcmnco Is making In the
mnks ~ our fellow men. NJ great Ia this
evil that uu man or woman Who ~ striving
a. improve their fellows can help taking II
into account II Is indeed an important
factor fpr evil In our midst Not only from
the physical aud moral standpoint j. IL work
ing WiHf Nitit uui ifuiu tlr hthnuINiut OF Ia
hur The man Who has 10 little sclf-control
that De- cannot resist the temptation 10 de-
grade himself Is always in danger Of
bringing disgrace upon his breth-
rem llc has lost bis sclf-respect
and. to some extent his Independence,
thus making nn easier victim "a the greed
of "a selfish employer. I would, therefore,
urge upon YOU the necessity of absiaining
frum everything that will, In tho
slightest degree, impair your useful.
nrss ns citizens or your efficiency AZ
locomotive engineers. H. frugal aud indus
triuus. practice economy; save your earn
ing. make the best Use you possibly can Of
your time aud talents
u wish to publicly thank the various d.
visions fur their many acts Uf courtesy, and
extend the same to my associates in Office.
who labor diligently To aid me at all times
in the various departments oi our official
business. ! congratulate you upon the sue
cess at the past yClr. aud would admonish
you 10 be- ever ON the alert for the beat In
icrrstg II the cause which you have CO.
pOusUd.'
After today the mcciin- viii be In secret.
and the rest ui the time will be devoted 70 q
rcuoml aud ifee discussion of all questions
p-iaiuiug 10 the Interests and welfare Of tho
order,